Program Details
Program Length
The MS program is approximately two years divided over five terms.
The joint PharmD (three-year)/MS program is approximately four years, with the final year dedicated to a research-focused curriculum.
The joint PharmD (five-year)/MS program is the same length as the five-year PharmD alone.
Licensure Requirements
Not applicable for MS. If in the joint program, any PharmD licensing requirements are required.
Accreditation
The School of Pharmacy is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Board of Directors. Information on the accreditation process may be found on the Council’s website at www.acpe-accredit.org. The ACPE Board of Directors reviewed the Doctor of Pharmacy program for purposes of continued accreditation at its January 2015 meeting. The accreditation term granted for the Doctor of Pharmacy program extended until June 30, 2025.
Pacific University received institutional accreditation from the Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities (NASC), Commission on Colleges and Universities, in 1929. In 1945 the University requested permission and received approval from NASC to offer the doctoral degree. Pacific University is fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), which until the year 2003 was part of NASC.
Student Learning Outcomes
The Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree program trains students interested in discovery-based research, who are motivated to disseminate new knowledge in the biomedical sciences. The program learning outcomes (PLOs) describe how students in our program demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes critical to discipline mastery.
Program Learning Outcomes
Policies: School of Pharmacy
See the School of Pharmacy’s Student Handbook for all program policies.
Time limits on program completion
Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences programs: All degree requirements must be completed within seven years. Timing begins on the date of matriculation into the Graduate program. Terms spent on a leave of absence are counted toward the timing limit. Students may petition based on extraordinary circumstances.
Doctor of Pharmacy program: All degree requirements must be completed within ten years. Timing begins on the date of matriculation into the graduate program. Terms spent on a leave of absence are counted toward the timing limit.
Degree Conferral
Eligible candidates for a May degree conferral must apply for the degree by January 15. All students receiving degrees are required to participate in the May Commencement ceremony. The degree is conferred with distinction upon graduates who have maintained a grade point average of 3.7 or higher in the professional curriculum and have not received substandard or failing grades in the professional didactic and clinical curriculum.
Transfer Credits
Pacific University School of Pharmacy will consider transfer students for admittance to advance standing only after careful review of all available information. The School will evaluate students who wish to transfer on a case by case basis, and will include a student interview. Student prerequisites, course descriptions and syllabi from the previous institution, hours completed, transcripts, and other significant data will be used in making a decision.
Normal Load
9 credits or higher is a full-time course load; 5 credits is half-time.
Auditing
Auditors enroll in and attend classes, but are not required to complete assignments or take examinations. No credit is received for audited courses. Students must declare the audit option before the end of the add-drop period; once the audit option has been declared, the course cannot revert back to the graded option. See the catalog section on Business Policies on Tuition and Fees for payment information.
Grading
The School uses a combination of A-F grades and Pass/No Pass system of recording student achievement. Letter Grades will be assigned using the following scale. Grades will be calculated by the following point allocation with no rounding.
A = 93 & above
A- = 90 to <93
B+ = 87 to <90
B = 83 to <87
B- = 80 to <83
C+ = 75 to < 80
F = below 75 or academic dishonesty, unprofessional conduct, unsatisfactory clinical progress, unsafe clinical practice
P = Pass
N = No Pass
Students must complete all coursework with satisfactory grades. If the student earns a single grade of “F” or “N” in any required/core course in any given semester, the student will be required to retake the course one more time or will be dismissed from the program.
Academic Standing
Students maintain the status of “Good Standing” with the School unless they are currently on probation, suspension, or dismissal. See the Student Handbook for details regarding program policies and procedures around placing students on probation, suspension or grounds for dismissal and administrative withdrawal. Information is also available on leave of absence and processes for appeals.
